Sealing wheel for forming fin seal package

ABSTRACT

A sealing wheel having a plurality of radially outwardly opening pockets is rotatably indexed through loading and discharging positions. Each pocket, formed by a pair of stationary jaws, receives an article and its wrapper at the loading position and forms the wrapper to a U-fold about the article. Movable heat sealing jaws associated with each pair of stationary jaws have U-shaped sealing surfaces which engage marginal portions of the wrapper outwardly of the stationary jaws to form a U-shaped fin seal around three sides of the package, a fourth side being formed by the wrapper fold. A jaw opening mechanism opens each set of sealing jaws as it approaches the discharging position, where the wrapped and sealed package is ejected. The jaw opening mechanism is also arranged to simultaneously open all jaws in closed position in response to a predetermined condition, such as machine shut-down.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates in general to packaging machines and deals moreparticularly with an improved sealing wheel for forming a fin sealpackage. The machine of the present invention is particularly adapted toform a rectangular wrapper in a U-fold around an article or group ofarticles and seal three marginal edges of the wrapper in face-to-facerelation to form a rectangular package characterized by a fin seal whichextends along three side edges, the fourth side of the package beingdefined by a wrapper fold. Such a package is particularly suitable forcontaining gum or a like confection which requires a tightly sealedpackage for maximum product shelf life. Heretofore, reciprocating presstype apparatus has been used to form packages of the aforedescribedtype, however, such a press type sealing unit, which must operate onsuccessive packages, cannot produce packages at an acceptable rate whileremaining in engagement with each wrapper for a sufficient time toproduce a seal of the integrity required for packaging perishable foodproducts. The present invention is directed to this problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a sealing wheel comprises awheel assembly and drive means for rotatably indexing wheel assemblythrough loading and packaging discharging positions. The wheel assemblyincludes a wheel body which has at least one radially outwardly openingpocket for receiving an article and its wrapper and forming the wrapperin a U-fold around the article. A pair of movable sealing jaws, whichhave opposing sealing surfaces, are supported on the wheel body inassociation with the pocket for movement between open and closedpositions. The sealing surfaces of the jaws are engageable with marginalportions of the wrapper which extend outwardly beyond the confines ofthe pocket when the jaws are in closed position. A means is provided forheating at least one of the sealing surfaces. A means is also providedfor opening and closing the sealing jaws.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a sealing wheel embodying thepresent invention with parts removed to expose structure therebehind.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 2--2 of FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view through the sealing wheel taken generallyalong the line 3--3 of FIG. 1, the indexing drive unit shown rotated 90degrees from its normal position.

FIG. 4 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary radial sectional view throughthe wheel assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along the line5--5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a package formed by the sealing wheel ofthe present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the package shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8--8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a somewhat schematic perspective view of the sealing wheelassembly.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 3, butillustrates another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 11--11 ofFIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Turning now to the drawings, a sealing wheel embodying the presentinvention and indicated generally by the reference numeral 10 in FIGS.1-3 comprises a wheel assembly, indicated generally at 12, and a driveunit, designated generally by the reference numeral 14, which indexesthe wheel assembly 12 about its axis of rotation. The illustratedsealing wheel 10 is particularly adapted to receive an article and itswrapper, form the wrapper around the article, and seal complementarymarginal portions of the wrapper together in face-to-face relationbeyond associated edges of the article whereby to form the generallyrectangular package characterized by a fold line which extends along oneside edge of the package and a generally U-shaped fin seal which definesthe other three side edges of the package.

Such a rectangular fin seal package is shown in FIGS. 6-8, indicatedgenerally by the letter P, and is particularly suitable for containinggum or a like confection which requires a tightly sealed package formaximum shelf life. The package P may contain one or more articles, suchas wrapped sticks of gum, indicated at g, g in FIG. 7, however, forconvenience in the description which follows the gum sticks g, g will bedesignated collectively as an article and indicated by the letter G. Thepackage P is made from a single sheet of heat sealable wrappingmaterial, designated by the letter W and folded to a U-shape around thearticle G. The wrapper W has a fold line L adjacent one side of thearticle which defines one side edge of the package and complementarymarginal portions which extend outwardly beyond the article G and whichare sealed in face-to-face relation and form a generally U-shaped fin Fwhich defines the remaining three side edges of the package P.

Considering the machine 10 in further detail and referring now to FIGS.1-4, the wheel assembly 12 is mounted in fixed position on a hollowdrive shaft 15 for coaxial rotation with the shaft and includes a wheelbody 16 and a plurality of equiangularly spaced pockets, indicatedgenerally at 18, 18 in FIG. 1, for receiving articles G, G to be wrappedand the wrappers W, W. Referring more particularly to FIG. 4 each pocket18 is defined by a pair of stationary jaws 20, 20 bolted in fixedposition on the body 16, which forms the central portion of the wheelassembly. Abutting adjustment screws 22, 22 are provided for adjustingthe pocket opening between each pair of stationary jaws 20, 20,substantially as shown. Each pocket 18 contains an elongated ejectorelement 24 which is supported in the pocket for sliding movement betweenreceiving and ejecting positions. The opposite end portions of eachejector element 24 extend laterally outwardly for some distance beyondthe wheel body 16, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Spring-ball detentsindicated generally at 26, 26, and best shown in FIG. 4, cooperate toreleasably retain each ejector element in its receiving position withinits associated pocket 18. The ejector elements 24, 24 comprise part ofan ejector mechanism which includes a pair of ejector levers 27, 27'mounted in fixed position on a rock shaft 29 at the inner and outersides of the wheel assembly and at its discharge end. Each of the levers27, 27' has a generally upwardly open channel 31 at its upper end forreceiving an associated end portion of an ejector element 24 as will behereinafter further discussed.

A pair of movable sealing jaws 28, 28, are supported on the wheel body16 in association with each set of stationary jaws 20, 20. The sealingjaws 28, 28 of each set are substantially identical, have a generallyU-shaped configuration and include legs which straddle the wheel body 16and are attached to the body by a common pivot pin 30, which extendsthrough the wheel body 16 in parallel relation to the drive shaft 15, asbest shown in FIG. 3. Each sealing jaw 28 is recessed to receive anassociated stationary jaw 20 therein when the sealing jaws 28, 28 are inclosed position. Each pair of sealing jaws 28, 28 has opposing generallyU-shaped sealing surfaces 32, 32. At least one of the sealing jaws 28 ineach pair carries a heating element for heating its sealing surface, butpreferably and as shown, each sealing jaw 28 carries an electricallyoperated heating element 34, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, which heats itssealing surface 32.

A reaction block 36 is mounted in fixed position on the wheel body 16between each pair of sealing jaws 28, 28 and the next adjacent pair ofsealing jaws in the series, substantially as shown in FIG. 1. Springs38, 38 act between the reaction blocks 36, 36 and the jaws 28, 28 tobias the jaws 28, 28 of each pair toward normally closed positionwherein the sealing surfaces 32, 32 of the jaws are engageable. A jawopening mechanism hereinafter described is provided for opening eachpair of sealing jaws 28, 28 at a predetermined angular position of thewheel assembly and in response to rotational movement of the wheelassembly. The opening mechanism is also arranged to simultaneously openall jaws 28, 28 which may be in closed position in response tooccurrence of a predetermined condition, such as machine shut-down.

The jaw opening mechanism includes a jaw opener cam shaft 40 associatedwith each pair of sealing jaws 28, 28. Each cam shaft 40 is journalledin an associated bore 42 which extends transversely through the wheelbody 16 in generally parallel relation to the drive shaft 15. The endportions of each opener cam shaft 40 extend outwardly in oppositedirections between the legs of an associated pair of sealing jaws 28, 28and for some distance therebeyond, as best shown in FIG. 2. Portions ofeach cam shaft 40 are shaped to engage and move roller followers 44, 44mounted on the legs of each sealing jaw 28 when the opener cam shaft 40is moved angularly within the wheel body 16. A jaw opener lever 46mounted on the inner end of each cam shaft 40 carries a roller followerwhich engages a stationary cam 48 mounted in fixed position on themachine frame inwardly of the wheel assembly 12. A similar shut-downlever 50, which also carries a roller follower, is mounted at the outerend of each opener cam shaft 40.

The shut-down levers 50, 50 are operated by a shut-down member orangularly movable bell housing 52 mounted at the outer end of the wheelassembly 12. The bell housing 52 is supported for limited rotationalmovement on the outer end of the drive shaft 15 and is secured to thedrive shaft by a ball lock pin 53 which extends through the bell housingand through an arcuate slot in the outer end of the drive shaft 15. Theinner end of the pin 53 is engaged in the outer part of a sprag clutch54 received in the outer end of the tubular drive shaft 15. The outerpart of the one way clutch 54 is bolted to the bell housing 52, as bestshown in FIG. 1. A radially outwardly extending crank arm 56 bolted tothe inner part of the clutch 54 is secured to a movable part or pistonrod 58 of a fluid motor or double acting pneumatic cylinder 60 by a balllock pin 62.

On the inner side of the bell housing 52 there is mounted acircumaxially spaced series of sets of cam rollers 64, 64. Each set ofrollers 64, 64 receives the roller follower of an associated shut-downlever 50 therebetween. The cam rollers 64, 64 are arranged tosimultaneously impart angular movement to each shut-down lever 50associated with a pair of sealing jaws 28, 28 which are in closedposition to simultaneously move the latter jaws to open position whenthe bell housing is moved angularly about its central axis and relativeto the wheel assembly 12 in response to operation of the fluid motor 60,as will be hereinafter further discussed.

The illustrated drive unit 14 is of a conventional type and will not bedescribed in detail, however, the drive unit is connected to a suitabledrive means (not shown) and provides a 45 degree index cycle for theillustrated 8 pocket wheel assembly 12. More specifically, the driveunit 14 advances the wheel assembly 12 in a clockwise direction and witha step-by-step 45 degree angular motion through a loading position,shown at 9 o'clock, and a discharging position, shown at 3 o'clock inFIG. 1. The drive unit 14 may be adjusted so that the wheel assembly 12dwells for sufficient time at each angular position to allow an articleand its wrapper to be inserted into a pocket 18 at the loading positionand to permit a finished package to be ejected from a pocket 18 at thedischarging position.

Electrical conduits 66 and 68 supply power to the heating elements 34,34, are connected to the heating elements at the outer side of the wheelassembly 12, and are accessible for servicing upon removal of the bellhousing. The conduits 66 and 68 extend through the hollow drive shaft 15and are connected at the inner end of the shaft to slip rings 70 and 72through which electrical power is supplied to the heaters. A safetyinterlock is provided for interrupting electrical power to the heatingelements 34, 34 when the bell housing 52 is removed. The interlockcomprises an elongated rod 74 which bears against the inner surface ofthe clutch 54 and extends through the hollow shaft 15 to maintain anormally open switch 76, located at the inner end of the machine, inclosed contact condition. The switch 76 is connected in the heatercircuit between the heaters 34, 34 and the electrical power supplysource (not shown).

Considering now the operation of the sealing wheel 10 and referringparticularly to FIG. 9, wherein the wheel assembly 12 is illustratedsomewhat schematically, wrapped gum sticks g, g to be packaged whichcomprise an article G, are accumulated in groups of five sticks arrangedin adjacent side-by-side relation. The article G is advanced, byassociated conveying means (not shown) toward and into a pocket 18 whichis in dwell mode at the loading position. The latter position, forconvenience of description, is designated position A. As each article Gis fed into the pocket 18 at position A the article picks up a wrapper Wwhich is folded around the article in a U-fold as the article andwrapper W enter the pocket 18. The sealing jaws 28, 28 associated withthe pocket at position A are, of course, in open position and theejector element 24 associated with the latter pocket is in its receivingposition, being held in receiving position by associated spring-balldetents 26, 26.

As the wheel assembly indexes through a 45 degree cycle in a clockwisedirection to position B of FIG. 9, the jaw opener lever 46 associatedwith the movable sealing jaws 28, 28 cooperates with the stationary cam48 to allow the sealing jaws to close under the biasing force of springs38, 38. The U-shaped sealing surfaces 32, 32 engage associated marginalportions of the wrapper W which extend outwardly beyond the pocket 18defined by associated stationary jaws 20, 20. The sealing jaws remainclosed during more than three indexing cycles or for more than 135degrees of wheel assembly rotation, that is while the pocket 18 isindexed from position A through positions B, C and D. This arrangementallows ample time for the sealing jaws to apply sufficient heat to thewrapper marginal portions to produce a satisfactory fin seal.

As a pocket 18 approaches the wheel assembly discharging or unloadingposition, designated by the letter E, diametrically opposite the loadingposition A, an associated jaw opener lever 46 cooperates with thestationary cam 48 to angularly move the jaw opener cam shaft 40 andthereby open the sealing jaws 28, 28. As the pocket 18 moves into theunloading position (position E) end portions of the associated ejectorelement 24 enter the channels 31, 31 in the ejector levers 27, 27'.While the pocket 18 dewells at unloading position E the ejector levers27, 27' which operate in timed relation to the indexing drive mechanism14 move from the full line or receiving position to the broken line orejecting position of FIG. 1 to move the ejector lever 24 to its ejectingposition thereby discharging a finished package P from the sealing wheel10. The return movement of the ejector levers 27, 27' returns theejector element to its receiving position wherein it is releasablyretained by associated spring-ball detents 26, 26. Thereafter, thesealing wheel 10 is indexed through the next 45 degree indexing cycleand the aforedescribed sequence of operations is repeated.

In the event of a jam or other predetermined condition which results ininterruption of the cyclical operation of the sealing wheel 10 the jawopener mechanism operates to simultaneously open each sealing jaw 28which may then be in closed position. This arrangement preventsapplication of excessive heat to an article G which may cause thearticle to melt within its associated pocket 18.

The illustrated machine 10, has a sensing device, illustratedschematically and indicated by the numeral 78 in FIG. 1, for detectinginterruption of the cyclical movement of the sealing wheel. The sensingdevice 78 may, for example, detect interruption of power to a drivemotor, such as the motor 80, which is illustrated schematically in FIG.1 and which drives the sealing wheel 10. The sensing device preferablyincludes a timing mechanism for energizing the pneumatic cylinder 60only if the power interruption exist for more than a predeterminedinterval of time.

Upon occurrence of such a predetermined condition, the wheel assemblywill, of course, be at rest and the sealing jaws 28, 28 associated withthe pockets 18, 18 on the upper portion of the wheel assembly at or nearpositions B, C and D will normally be closed or in heat sealingcondition. Upon detection of the predetermined condition the pneumaticcylinder 60 is energized by operation of an associated control valve(not shown) and moves the lever 56 in a clockwise direction from itsposition of FIG. 1 causing the outer part of the clutch 54 to move withthe inner part and, in turn, causing the bell housing 52 to moveangularly in clockwise direction and relative to the wheel body 16.Angular movement of the bell housing is or may be limited by travel ofthe pin 53 within an associated slot in the drive shaft. This angularmovement of the bell housing causes cam rollers 64, 64 carried by thebell housing to engage and move the shut-down levers 50, 50 associatedwith the closed sealing jaws 28, 28 at or near positions B, C and D tomove the latter sealing jaws to open position. The various sealing jawswill remain open for as long as the predetermined condition exists.Since the products within the pockets are held by the stationary jaws20, 20 the heat sealing jaws 28, 28 will be out of engagement with thewrappers W, W while the latter jaws are in open position.

When the condition which caused shut-down has been corrected and theapparatus is again started the pneumatic cylinder 58 operates to movethe bell housing 52 in a counterclockwise direction relative to thewheel body thereby removing the influence of the cam roller 64, 64 onthe various shut-down levers so that further opening and closingmovements of the sealing jaws are thereafter controlled by thestationary cam 48.

The bell housing assembly which includes the bell housing 52, the clutch54 and the crank arm 56 may be rapidly removed from the wheel assemblyto facilitate lubrication and maintenance of the wheel assembly bypulling the lock pins 53 and 62. When the bell housing assembly isremoved the rod 74 allows the switch 76 to assume an open circuitcondition whereby power to the sealing jaw heaters 34, 34 isinterrupted. A single switch 76 is shown, for clarity of illustration,however, it should be understood that multiple safety interlockswitches, as aforedescribed, may be provided to further reduce risk ofelectrical shock when the bell housing is removed.

Referring now to FIGS. 10 and 11, another wheel assembly embodying theinvention is indicated generally at 12a. The wheel assembly 12a issimilar in most respects to the wheel assembly 12, previously described,but differs therefrom in the arrangement for retaining each ejectorelement in its receiving position within its associated pocket. Parts ofthe sealing wheel 12a, substantially identical to parts of thepreviously discussed wheel assembly 12, bear the same reference numeralas the corresponding parts previously described and a letter a suffixwill not be hereinafter further described in detail.

The wheel assembly 12a has a generally annular ejector element retainingring 82 which is bolted in fixed position to the machine frame inwardlyof and in coaxial alignment with the drive shaft 15a, as best shown inFIG. 11. The retaining ring 82 cooperates with the ejector lever 27a andhas a parti-circular outwardly opening track 84 for receiving inner endportions of the ejector elements 24a, 24a and for retaining the latterelements in receiving position. The track 84 has a gap or break at thethree o'clock position, as shown in FIG. 11, to provide clearance for anassociated ejector lever 27a. Diverging guide surfaces 86 and 88 definethe entry end of the track 84, substantially as shown. When the ejectorlevers 27a, 27a' are in receiving position the channel 31a on the lever27a is aligned with the track 84, as shown in FIG. 11, where thereceiving position of the ejector lever 27a is shown in full lines. Itshould be noted that the inner end portion of the ejector element 24a atthe discharging or three o'clock position is disposed within the channel31a whereas the inner end portions of each of the other ejector elements24, 24 are disposed within the track 84.

While the wheel assembly 12a is at rest the ejector levers 27a and 27aoperate to move the ejector element 24a at the discharging position fromits receiving to its ejecting position and to return it to its receivingposition. Thereafter, the sealing wheel 12a indexes in a clockwisedirection. The ejector lever 27a remains in its receiving or full lineposition of FIG. 11 during this indexing movement of the wheel assembly12a. The arm of the lever 27a is disposed in the path of the ejectorelement 24a, after it leaves the channel 31a, and prevents the latterelement from moving radially outwardly and out of its respective pocket18a (not shown) as the wheel assembly moves the latter ejecting elementacross the gap in the track 84 to the four o'clock position in FIG. 11,where it reenters the track 84. The guide surfaces 86 and 88 assureproper reentry. It will now be apparent that the ring 82 may be used inplace of the various spring-ball detents 26, 26 to retain the ejectorelements in receiving position within their respectively associatedpockets while the wheel assembly is indexed through its variouspositions.

We claim:
 1. A sealing wheel comprising a wheel assembly, and drive means for rotatably indexing said wheel assembly through a plurality of positions including an article loading position and article discharging position, said wheel assembly including a wheel body, stationary jaw means on said wheel body defining at least one radially outwardly opening pocket for receiving an article and its wrapper and forming the wrapper in a U-fold around the article when said one pocket is in said loading position and including a pair of stationary jaws mounted in fixed position relative to said wheel body and having opposing parallel jaw surfaces defining said pocket, a pair of opposing sealing jaws pivotally supported on said wheel body in association with said one pocket for movement between open and closed positions, each of said sealing jaws being supported for movement relative to the wheel body and having a recess within which an associated one of said stationary jaws is received and surrounded on three sides by said sealing jaws when said sealing jaws are in closed position, said sealing jaws having opposing generally U-shaped sealing surfaces on said three sides for sealing said folded wrapper on three sides of said article, said stationary jaws positioned to maintain in spaced relation to said sealing surfaces marginal portions of a wrapper contained within and extending outwardly beyond the confines of said pocket when said sealing jaws are in said open position, said sealing surfaces being engageable with the extending marginal portions of the wrapper when said sealing jaws are in closed position, means for heating at least one of said sealing surfaces, means for normally biasing said sealing jaws toward said closed position and means for opening said sealing jaws when said sealing wheel is indexed to a predetermined position by said drive means and including a cam shaft supported on said wheel body between said sealing jaws for angular movement about its axis, said cam shaft and said jaws having coengageable cam surfaces for simultaneously pivoting said sealing jaws away from said stationary jaws and each other in response to angular movement of said cam shaft about its axis, a stationary cam, and an opener lever attached to said cam shaft and engaged with said stationary cam for angularly moving said cam shaft when said sealing wheel is indexed to said predetermined position.
 2. A sealing wheel as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sealing jaws comprise generally U-shaped jaws straddling said stationary jaws.
 3. A sealing wheel as set forth in claim 2 wherein said sealing jaws straddle at least a portion of said wheel body and are supported on said wheel body for pivotal movement about a common axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said wheel assembly.
 4. A sealing wheel as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sealing wheel includes ejecting means for moving an article and its wrapper out of said pocket when said pocket is in said discharging position.
 5. A sealing wheel as set forth in claim 4 wherein said ejecting means includes an ejector element supported within said one pocket for movement between receiving and ejecting positions, means for releasably retaining said ejector element in said receiving position and means for moving said ejector element between said receiving and ejecting positions when said one pocket is in said discharging position.
 6. A sealing wheel as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means for releasably retaining said ejector element comprises a ball detent mechanism.
 7. A sealing wheel as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means for releasably retaining said ejector element comprises a stationary track for receiving an associated portion of each of said ejector elements therein.
 8. A sealing wheel as set forth in claim 7 wherein said track comprises a parti-circular track.
 9. A sealing wheel as set forth in claim 1 wherein said drive means includes a tubular drive shaft supporting said wheel assembly and said heating means comprises an electrically operated heating element electrically connected to a power source by conduits extending through said tubular drive shaft.
 10. A sealing wheel as set forth in claim 9 wherein said wheel assembly includes a housing assembly releasably connected to said drive shaft and interlock means for disabling said heating element when said housing assembly is removed from said drive shaft.
 11. A sealing wheel as set forth in claim 10 wherein said housing assembly is connected to one end of said drive shaft and said interlock means includes an electrical switch at the other end of said drive shaft and a rod extending through said drive shaft and bearing against said housing assembly and an actuator on said switch to maintain said switch in closed circuit condition while said housing assembly is retained on said drive shaft.
 12. A sealing wheel as set forth in claim 1 wherein said wheel assembly includes a plurality of pairs of stationary jaws defining a plurality of angularly spaced pockets, a plurality of pairs of movable sealing jaws, each pair of sealing jaws cooperating with an associated pair of stationary jaws, and jaw operating means for simultaneously moving all of said sealing jaws from said closed position to said open position.
 13. A sealing wheel as set forth in claim 12 wherein said sealing wheel includes sensing means for detecting occurrence of a predetermined sealing wheel operating condition and means responsive to said sensing means for actuating said jaw operating means upon detection of said predetermined condition by said sensing means.
 14. A sealing wheel as set forth in claim 4 wherein said ejecting means comprises an ejector element supported within said one pocket for movement relative to said one pocket between article receiving and article ejecting positions and having an end portion projecting from said one pocket, means defining a parti-circular track coaxially aligned with said wheel body for receiving said end portion when said ejector element is in its article receiving position to retain said ejector element in its article receiving position as said sealing wheel is rotatably indexed to and from said discharging position, said track having a gap at said article discharging position, and an ejector lever operable in timed relation to said drive means and movable into and out of said gap for moving said ejector element between said article receiving and article ejecting positions, said ejector lever having a channel movable into and out of alignment with said track for receiving said end portion when said one pocket is in said article discharging position and moving said ejector element between its article receiving and article ejecting positions.
 15. A sealing wheel comprising a wheel assembly, and drive means for rotatably indexing said wheel assembly through a plurality of positions including an article loading position and an article discharging position, said wheel assembly including a wheel body, stationary jaw means on said wheel body defining at least one radially outwardly opening pocket for receiving an article and its wrapper and forming the wrapper in a U-fold around the article when said one pocket is in said loading position and including a pair of stationary jaws mounted in fixed position relative to said wheel body and having opposing parallel jaw surfaces defining said pocket, a pair of opposing sealing jaws supported on said wheel body in association with said one pocket for movement relative to said wheel body between open and closed positions, each of said sealing jaws being supported for movement relative to the wheel body and having a recess within which an associated one of said stationary jaws is received and surrounded on three sides by said sealing jaws when said sealing jaws are in closed position, said sealing jaws having opposing generally U-shaped sealing surfaces on said three sides for sealing said folded wrapper on three sides of said article, said stationary jaws positioned to maintain in spaced relation to said sealing surfaces marginal portions of a wrapper contained within and extending outwardly beyond the confines of said pocket when said sealing jaws are in said open position, said sealing surfaces being engageable with the extending marginal portions of the wrapper when said sealing jaws are in closed position, means for heating at least one of said sealing surfaces, means for opening and closing said sealing jaws, and ejecting means for moving an article and its wrapper out of said one pocket when said one pocket is in said discharging position and including an ejector element supported within said one pocket for movement relative to said one pocket between article receiving and article ejecting positions and having an end portion projecting from said one pocket, means defining a parti-circular track coaxially aligned with said wheel body for receiving said end portion when said ejector element is in its article receiving position to retain said ejector element in its article receiving position as said sealing wheel is rotatably indexed to and from said discharging position, said track having a gap at said article discharging position, and an ejector lever operable in timed relation to said drive means and movable into and out of said gap for moving said ejector element between said article receiving and article ejecting positions, said ejector lever having a channel movable into and out of alignment with said track for receiving said end portion when said one pocket is in said article discharging position and moving said ejector element between its article receiving and article ejecting positions. 